The provincial Special Investigations Unit(SIU) has found members of the Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS) had no involvement with the custody death of 37-year-old Normand Jeanveau of Sudbury in May 2007.
The Director of the SIU, James Cornish, has determined there are no reasonable grounds to believe any GSPS officer committed a criminal offence in connection with Jeanveau's death.
Four SIU investigators and two forensic investigators were assigned to probe the circumstances of the death.
The SIU investigation determined on May 11, 2007, a 9-1-1 call was made asking for an ambulance to attend a residence on Bellevue Street in Sudbury. A family member said Jeanveau had fallen in the living room of the home and needed medical care. Paramedics arrived at the home, and while trying to assess Jeanveau, he became aggressive and uncooperative. Police were called to the home.
A GSPS officer arrived at the home a short time later. Jeanveau continued his aggressive behaviour and, as a result, more officers were called to assist. Despite being pepper-sprayed, Jeanveau continued to resist. He was taken to the ground and attempts were made to handcuff him.
When the other officers arrived, they were able to get the man handcuffed. Once handcuffed, he stopped struggling and went into medical distress. The paramedics began resuscitative efforts and transported Jeanveau to St. Joseph's Health Centre.
At 12:29 am May 12, Jeanveau was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Director Cornish said, “I do not believe the evidence discloses reasonable grounds to believe that the force used here was unreasonable or criminally excessive. Some force was obviously necessary for the officers to bring this struggle to an end and open hand techniques, together with the application of pepper spray, were the only use of force options used. The tragic outcome of this incident does not dictate the force used was criminally unreasonable.”
The SIU is a civilian government agency that investigates circumstances involving police and civilians, which have resulted in serious injury or death.
